IKIBS^ lEHIP^IEi^ 



OF THE 



HISTORICAL SOCIETY 



UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, 

M 



June 4, 184^. 



HILISBOROUGH: 



PRINTED BY DENNIS HEARTT. 



1845. 






"y 






Of the Secretary of the Htatorieal Society of the Univeraity of .Vt-reft 

Carolina! prepared for the Anniversary Meeting, June 'it/t, 1H45. 

The Secretary, in the performance of what he has deemed to be one of the du- 
ties attached to his office, begs leave to submit the following Report : 

A distribution of the matter under the two heads of what has as yet been accom- 
plished by the Society, and, what it may reasonably calculate upon as its prospects 
for the future, it has been thought, will give proper method to its arrangement. 

For the purpose of comparing what has been done by the Historical Society with 
that which was anticipated in its formation, it will be necessary to revert to the pro- 
fessed objects of the institution, as they were succinctly stated in the first publica- 
tion which appeared under its auspices. It was there said that " thin Society/ has 
been established, Jirst, for the purpose of endeavoring to excite such interest in the 
public mind, in regard to the history of the State, as may induce the Legislature 
to adopt early and efficieiil measures, to obtain from England the most interest- 
ing documents in relation to the Regal Government, together with such papers as 
may he found to reflect light upon the obscure history of the Proprietary Govern- 
ment of Carolina ; and secondly, to collect, arrange and preserve at the Univer- 
sity, AS NEARLY AS MAI BE POSSIBLE, one w morc copies of every book, pamphlet, 
and newspaper published in this state since the introduction of tlie Press among 
us in 1749/ all books publisfied without the State, in our own or foreign coun- 
tries, on the history of Carolina, and, especially, all the records, documents and 
papers to be found within the State that may tend to elucidate the history of the 
American Revolution." 

To any one who bestows thought upon the subject, it must appear singular, and 
indeed almost unaccountable, that down to tho present day, when seventy years 
have elapsed since North Carolina took her stand as an independent State, no In- 
stitution, having in view an object similar to this, has flourished within her borders. 
The antiquities and remnants of our Revolutionary story, to which may well be 
applied the " tanquam tabula naufragii" of Lord Bacon, lie confusedly scattered 
in every direction over the scene of the late storm. Owing to this fact, many ma- 
nuscripts, of great importance to the illustration of the War, have been irrecovera- 
bly lost. To prevent the progress of an evil, which so far as it hiis yet gone, is ir- 
reparable, is a principal object of this Society. It can scarcely bo expected that 
our diligence, so dilatorily awakened, shall be rewarded by an elucidation of our 
Revolutionary annals equal to what has taken place among the more active, North- 
ern members of the Confederacy ; yet it is hoped that, by bringing together and re- 
ducing to some more indestructible form the materials of a generation whose place 
now knows them again no more forever, we shall in some degree acquit ourselves 
of our debt to the past and to posterity. 

From deficiencies, such as those existing among the records of our own State, it 
must be evident, that a history of the American Revolutionary war, whose merits 
are commensurate with the importance of that great struggle, is yet to be written. 
Narratives have appeared, without doubt, ranking high as literary productions, or, 
for the most part, as authentic accounts of whatever facts they may pretend to re- 
late ; but as general histories of the several campaigns, it will be found that they 
are essentially, although perhaps, not unaccountably deficient. It could hardly be 
expected that an accurate collection of the journals and other memoranda of a war 
which extended over the three hundred and sixty thousand square miles compre- 
hended by the limits of the thirteen original States, could be made by gentlemen 
residing, as most of our historians do, in one part of the Union. This fact has im- 
pressed itself strongly upon our Revolutionary annals. Whilst the events of the 
war, as carried on in the Northern and Middle portions of the Confederacy, have 
been fully recorded, that part of the same contest which extended through Caroli- 
na and Georgia is strikingly imperfect. No history has yet appeared, which docs 



4 

not discover a Bimilarity to the figure which disturbed the rest of the ancient King 
of Chaldea ; although its head and breast are composed of gold and silver, its lower 
extremities degenerate into an unmingling compound of iron and clay. The duty 
of pointing out and remedying these deficiencies must necessarily devolve upon 
gentlemen at the South. In appropriating this task, the Historical Society has de- 
termined, that although it cannot consider itself at all committed to the labor of pre- 
paring such a stable record of Revolutionary events as is understood by the term 
history, yet the simplest form of its duty will be to render accessible to the histori- 
an, whoever he may be, as far as possible, all the facts which may be connected 
with the war in North Carolina. 

In attempting to make a collection of these facts, it was clearly necessary to snc- 
cess, that the general attention of the State should be aroused to an appreciation 
of our impoitant undertaking. The degree of curiosity and interest already 
excited among distinguished portions of our fellow-citizens, is held to be a pleasing 
proof that this enterprise is by no means premature or imseasonable ; and the 
amount of material already contributed, may well be assumed as a fair precursor of 
a greater degree of success than had been anticipated in the organization of the So- 
ciety. In the opening Message of Gov. Motikkeati to the l/egislaturc, at the com- 
mencement of its late Session, the subject of the " History of the State" was urged 
on the attention of that body in a very decided manner ; and so strongly was he 
impressed with a sense of its importance, that on the 23d of December it formed the 
matter of a special communication, in which was suggested the collection by pub- 
lic authority of those Revolutionary " memorials which are scattered over the State, 
and gradually disappearing ; and which, like the leaves of the Sibyl, are rising in 
value as their numbers decrease." Action was taken by the Legislature in accord- 
ance with the suggestions contained in this message, and a consideral)le sum was 
appropriated for the purpose of carrying them out. Since that time, Gov. Grahamt, 
who has entered into the scheme with great spirit and cordiality, has been as^du- 
ously engaged in performing the duty imposed upon him by these Resolutions. 
The Synod of the Presbyterian Church also, in session at Fayetteville, in Novem- 
ber of the last year, expressed great interest with regard to the illustration of our 
Colonial and Revolutionary History, and addressed a memorial of some length to 
the Legislature upon the subject. 

We come now to consider the efforts which have been made by private individu- 
als to give success to this patriotic undertaking ; and it aflijrds us great pleasure to 
repeat in this place what has been stated above, that the contributions from various 
sources, as well beyond as within the limits of the State, both in amount and im- 
portance, have greatly exceeded our most sangm'ne calculations. The early exam- 
ple thus given to owners of books and manuscripts of Historical value, is worthy 
of all possible commendation. It has been thought proper to enumerate the collec- 
tion, as well for the purpose of apprizing' the public of its nature and extent, as for 
that of informing future contributors of the character of those memorials whose 
transmission to the archives of the Historical Society is respectfully solicited. 

BOOKS. 

No. I. A collection of all the Public Acts of Assembly of the Province of North 
Carolina, now in force and use. Together with the Titles of all such Laws as are 
obsolete, expired or repealed. And, also, an exact Table of the Titles of the Acts 
in force. Revised by Commissioners appointed by an Act of the General Assem- 
bly of the said Province, for that purpose ; and examined by the Records, and con- 
firmed in full Assembly. Newbern : Printed by James Davis. MDCCLII. 

[In connection with the date of this volume, it may not be inappropriate to insert 
the following extracts from Martin's History of North Carolina, with regard to the 
introduction of the Press into this State : 

" A Printing Press was this year (1749) imported into this province, and set up 
at Newbern by James Davis, fi-om Virginia. This was a valuable acquisition, for, 
hitherto, the want of an establishment of this kind was severely felt; the copies of 
the laws being all manuscripts, were necessarily very scarce, and, it is likely, faulty 
and inaccurate." Vol. II. p. 54. 

" In the course of this year, (1752.) was completed the printing of the first revisal 



of the Acts of Assembly. The multiplication of them by means of the press was a 
valuable advantage ; it tended to introduce order and uniformity in the decisions of 
courts, and by defining the riglits of the people, in a degree put an end to the great 
anarchy and confusion which had hitherto prevailed, from the ignorance of the people 
and the magistrates in this respect. The work was handsomely printed, and bound 
in a small folio volume ; a yellowish hue of the leather with which it was covered, 
proceeding from the unskilfulness of the tanner, procured it the homely appellation 
of the Yellow Jacket, which it retains to this day." Vol. II. pp. 58, 59.] 

No. II. A collection of all the Acts of Assembly of the Province of North Ca- ^ 

rolina, now in force and use, together with the titles of all such laws as are obso- 
lete, expired or repealed. In two volumes (quarto,) with Marginal Notes and Re- 
ferences, and an exact Table to the whole. Newbern : Printed by^ James Davis, 
Printer to the Honourable the Commons House of Assembly. MDCCLXV. 

[Of the " Yellow Jacket," the history of which is given above, and w-hidi was 
the first book printed in the Province, there are probably half a dozen copies now 
extant. Of the second book known to have been published by Davis, the title of 
which is given at length, the copy now in the possession of the Society, is, so far 
as the writer's knowledge extends, the only one in existence. The third edition of 
the Laws by the same publisher, (in one volume, folio,) the title of which follows, 
though scarce, is not unfrequently met with.] 

No. III. A complete Revisal of all the Acts of Assembly of the Province of 
North Carolina, now in force and use. Together with the titles of all such Laws -j- 

as are obsolete, expired or repealed. With Marginal Notes and References, and an 
exact Table to the whole. Newbern, Printed by James Davis, Printer to the Ho- 
nourable the House of Assembly. MDCCLXXIL 

No. IV. Laws of the State of North Carolina. Published according to Act of 
Assembly, by James Iredell, now one of the Associate Justices of the Supreme 
Court of the United States. Edenton : Printed by Hodge A Wills, Printers to the 
State of North Carolina. 1791. (One volume foho ; presented by WiUiam Boy- 
Ian, esq. of Raleigh.) 

No. V. A collection of the Statutes of the Parhament of England, in force in 
the State of North Carolina. By Francis Xavier Martin, esq., Newbern: 1792, 
(One volume, quarto; which, together with Nos. I. II. and HI., was presented by 
the President of the Society.) 

No. VI. A collection of the Private Acts of the General Assembly of the State of 
North Carolina, from the year 1715, to the year 1790, inclusive, now in force and use. 
Newbern : 1794. (One thin quarto volume ; from Weston R. Gales, esq., of Raleigh. 
No. VII. Historical collections of South Carolina, embracing many rare and 
valuable pamphlets, and other documents relating to the history of the State, from 
its first discovery, to its independence in the year 1776. Compiled, with various- 
■ notes, and an introduction, by B. R. Carroll. 2 vols. 8 vo. ; (from William A, 
Wright, esq., Wilmington.) 

[The first pamphlet in order in its compilation, is entitled " A brief description of 
the province of Carolina, and the coasts of Florida. And more particularly, of a 
new plantation begun by the English at Cape Fear, on that river now by them 
called Charles River, the 29th May, 1664," &c. Mr. Carroll niicht, with obvious: 
propriety, have given his work the more comprehensive title of Historical Collec- 
tions ofCai-olina. The northern part of the province was first settled, and a re- 
spectable proportion of his pages have quite as much relation to the region North 
as South of Cape Fear. If with this change of title, he would give us a third vo- 
lume, made up of Lawson's and Brickell's Histories of North Carolina, he wouM 
render his compilation nearly complete, and would present a fair claim for liberaF 
patronage on " the colder side of the Tweed."] 

No. VIII. Office and authority of a Justice of the Peace : by James Davis, New- 
bern : 1774. (Presented by Hon. John L. Bailey, of Hillsborough.) 

No. IX. Proceedings and Debates of the Convention of North Carohna, conven- 
ed at Hillsborough, on Monday the 21st day of July, 1788, for the purpose of deliber- 
ating on the Constitution recommended by the General Convention at Philadelphia 
the 17th day of September, 1787. To which is prefixed the same Constitutioiu 



Etlenton : Printed by Hodge & Willis, Printers to the State. MDCCLXXXIX. 
(Presented by Rev. Prof. Green, of Chapel Hill. 

No. X. Journal of the Convention which accepted the Constitution of the Uni- 
ted States, and which met at Fayetteville, 1790. From Hon. John L. Bailey, of 
Hillsborough. 

NEWSPAPERS. Number. 

Boston Gazette and Country Journal, 245 Dec. 10, 1759. 

r 124 March 2, 1770. 
Connecticut Journal and New Haven Post Boy, < 126 ' 16, ' 

C_ 153 Sept. 21, 
Connecticut Courant, Sept. 17, 1771. 

New London Gazette, vol. 9. 246 Jan. 10, 1772. 

Connecticut Gazette and Universal Intelligencer, vol. 12. 599 May 5, 1775. 
Massachusetts Spy, or American Oracle of Liberty, vol. 6. 270 June 28, 1776. 

r 72 Dec. 19, 1777, 
Continental Journal and Weekly Advertiser, [Boston,] < to to 

(_ 107 June 11, 1778. 
Independent Chronicle and Universal Advertiser, vol. 9. 479 March 27, J 777. 
Continental Journal and Weekly Advertiser, [Boston,] April 3 to Oct, 3, ' 

r July 16, 1778, 

Independent Chronicle and Universal Advertiser, < to 

C Jan. 14, 1779. 

American Mercury, from vol. 1. No. 1, [July 12, 1784,] 

to vol. 2, No. 59, Aug. 22, 1785. 

Connecticut Courant, June 19, 1786. 

And same paper, June 16, 1788, to March 23, 1789. 

Independent Chronicle and Universal Advertiser, (broken file,) for 1793 and 1794. 
Columbian Centinel, one number 1793, two numbers 1794. 
Connecticut Courant, 1796, 1797, 1799, 1800, 1801, 1802, and 1805. 
Columbian Centinel, (complete tiles,) 1793, 1794, and 1806, 1807. 
Hampshire Federalist — a few numbers for 1809. 
Weekly Messenger, (broken file,) 1813. 

[The above form the valuable collection of Newspapers presented to the Histo- 
rical Society, by Rev. Simeon Colton, of Fayetteville.] 
North Carolina Chronicle; or Fayetteville Gazette, from Sept. 13, 1790, to March 

7, 1791. [From Dr. James Webb, of Hillsborough.] 
North CaroUna Mercury, and Salisbury Watchman, vol. 2, No. 62, June 27, 1799. 

[From Archibald Henderson, esq. of Salisbury.] 
Four Supplements to the Cape Fear Mercury, Nos. 48, 50, 51, 52. (Presented by 
Dr. Derossett, and transmitted by Griffith J. M'Rea, esq. of Wilmington. 
MANUSCRIPTS. 
Order-Book, kept by the late Col. Thomas Brown, of Bladen, under the com- 
mand of Gen. Waddell, from 5th May to 11th June, 1771, during the expedition 
against the Regulators. Presented by A. A. Brown, esq. of W^ilmington. 

Order-Book, kept by English Officers under the command of Sir Henry Clinton, 
Gen. Leslie, and Lord Cornwallis, from Sept. 2, 1780, to March 20, 1781 ; found 
among the papers of the late William Hooper, (one of the signers of the Declara- 
tion of American Independence,) and presented by his grandson, the Rev. Dr. 
Hooper, Professor of the Roman Language and Literature in the College of South 
Carolina. 

Biographical sketch of Gen. John Ashe, and other interesting manuscripts ; by 
A. M. Hooper, esq. of Chapel Hill. 

Historical sketch of the Town of Wilmington, and other valuable manuBcripts ; 
by Griffith J. McRee, esq., of Wilmington. 

Extracts from the Letter-Book of the late William Hill, esq. of Brunswick ; [from 
letters written during the years 1774 and 1775: communicated by his grand-son, 
Frederick C. Hill, esq. of Wilmington.] 

Communication in relation to the Revolutionary services of Col. Murphy, father 
of the late Judge Murphy ; by Jonathan Haralaon, esq., of Haywood, Chatham. 



Letters and pupers written during auJ subseqiient to the IteToHition; fiom the 
collection of the late James Hogg, esq., of Hillsborough : selected and presented by 
liis daughter, Mrs. Helen Caldwell. 

Manuscripts of Gov. Richard Caswell : preserved by his daughter, the late Mrs. 
Gatlin, of Lenoir. 

A large collection of letters and manuscripts, comprising the correspondence of 
Gen. John Steele, of Salisbury. 

Gen. Steele was an etlicient member of the Convention which rejected the Con- 
stitution of the United States, in July 1788, at Hillsborough, and of the Conven- 
tion which adopted it at Fayetteville, in November 1789. He represented the Sa- 
lisbury District in the first Congress assembled under the Constitution — received 
the appointment of Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States from Gen. 
Washington — served throughout the administration of the elder Adams, and re- 
signed, in opposition to the earnest and repeated remonstrances of Mr. Jefferson, in 
1802. He subsequently represented the town of Salisbury in the General Assem- 
bly on various occasions, and, as the successor of Gen. Davie, conducted with great 
ability, the protracted discussion with respect to the disputed boundary between 
this State and South Carolina ; which, after a contest of more than half a century, 
was formally settled in 1813. His pubhc correspondence commences with the 
adoption of the Constitution, and exhibits interesting and luminous views of the 
operations of the Government, by himself and other distinguished individuals of 
both the great political parties that divided the country, during the first twenty-five 
years of our national existence. Among his correspondents were Presidents Wash- 
ington, Adams and Jefferson ; Alexander Hamilton, Oliver Wolcott, Albert Galla- 
tin, Joseph Habersham, and Judges Iredell and Moore ; Nathaniel Macon, Gen. 
Davie, William Barry Grove, and Aichibald Henderson, of this State. North Ca- 
rolina has produced few individuals, whose public services offer more interesting to- 
pics for history and biography ; and it is hoped, that under the auspices of the So- 
ciety, some attempt to do justice to his memory will be made at no distant day. 
The Society is indebted for this valuable contribution to their collections, to Archi- 
bald Henderson, esq. of Salisbury. 

The Letter-Books, manuscripts and correspondence of Thomas Burke, a mem- 
ber of the Continental Congress, and Governor of North Carolina in l781-'2, jtre- 
sented to the Society through Dr. James Webb, of Hillsborough, by Miss Mary W. 
Burke, daughter and only child of Governor Burke, at present residing in Marion, 
Alabama. 

This is the most interesting, extensive, and valuable collection of papers which 
has rewarded our exertions to collect Revolutionary records. Ample materials are 
here afforded for the elucidation of the hitherto most obscure period of our Revolu- 
tionary history. From the era of the Mecklenburg Declaration, to the capitulation 
at Yorktown, there is none on which our future annalists will dwell with more 
patriotic pride. Among the letters to Gov. Burke, will be found communications 
from Gen. Greene, Gen. Wayne, Gen. Lee, Gen. La Fayette, Count Rochambeau, 
(the English,) Gen. Leslie, Maj. Craig, commandant of the British forces at Wil- 
mington, and from Gov. Caswell, Gov. Nash, Gen. William Caswell, General But- 
ler, Gen. Robert Howe, Gen. Davie, Gen. Allen Jones, Cornelius Harnett, William 
Hooper, Archibald McLain, (North Carolina Whigs,) and a characteristic despatch 
from Col. David Fanning, the most energetic, remorseless and cruel of American 
Tories. 

Letters of Charles W. Harris, Principal Professor in this University in 1 79.5- 
1796. [The series commences in 1793 and closes in 1801. The letters were ad- 
dressed, with a few exceptions, to his uncle, the late Charles Harris, M. D., and to 
his brother, Robert W. Harris. They reflect considerable light on the history of 
the Institution, and on that of the political parties which at that time divided the 
State.] Presented by Chas. W. Harris, esq.. Mill Grove, Cabarrus county. 

List, so far as ascertained, of the Members that have represented each County in 
the General Assembly of this State, from 1776 to the present time. Prepared un- 
der the direction of Col. John H. Wheeler, late Public Treasurer of this State, and 
presented by him to the Society. 



8 

As a means of more fully carrying out its designs, the Historical Society has be- 
gun an interchange of courtesies with various kindred associations in different States 
of this Union ; and, with this view, the Introductory Address, delivered before this 
Society on the 5th June, 1844, by L. Silliman Ives, D. D., LL. D., Bishop of the 
Diocese of North Carolma, together with several pamphlets of historical value in 
North Carolina, have, under the direction of this Society, been arranged and bound 
for the purpose of being transmitted to their archives. 

Having thus given some account of the operations of this body since its organi- 
zation in January, 1844, this report will be properly concluded, by adverting to its 
prospects for the future. A method of giving an increase of effect to the prosecu- 
tion of its grand object, is an evident desideratum. The particular means by which 
this intention shall be carried out, has not as yet been determined. Among the 
various schemes which have been suggested, however, it is supposed that the fol- 
lowing is the most feasible : That branch Associations be constituted through the 
different sections of the State, the members of which shall be appointed by the pa- 
rent Society, or by its President. In the absence of a better plan, it is confidently 
believed that the efficiency of this Institution will, in this way, be greatly increased. 
Although the contributions as yet received have exceeded our warmest hopes, it 
must be clear that, from our peculiar constitution, much valuable material may ne- 
ver reach our archives. Many persons in the State may never, or not until too 
late, so much as hear of the existence of a local body of such limited numbers as 
ours ; some may unreasonably distrust our motives ; others again, be wholly una- 
ware of the value of manuscripts in their possession. To remedy this evil, it will 
be proper to invest some among the neighbors of these persons with more than 
merely an intelligent interest in our success. This end, it is conceived, will be best 
attained by incorporating them into our number, and in this way, clothing them 
with an ex officio authority to make collections in our name ; at the same time, it 
is believed that a membership will inspire them with a peculiar interest in the wel- ] 
fare and prosperity of the Historical Society. That in every portion of the State, 
there will be found gentlemen who are willing and even happy to act under such a 
commission, our pride in the North Carolinan character will not permit us to doubt. 
North Carolinian modesty has for so long a time been made the butt of ridicule by 
the forward sons of other Stales, that at last, the heretofore silent pride of her citi- ' 
zens, in her ancient sobriety and time-hallowed character for honor, begins to pre- 
sent an appearance which is better defined, and more tangible. After our Revolu- 
tionary conduct had, for years together, formed the subject of railery and derision c 
on every hand ; and again and again been thrown in our teeth as a matter of ne- / 
ver dying reproach and disgrace : after we had, repeatedly, but in vain, endeavor- 
ed to defend our reputation by the argument that it was no part of human justice 
to visit the transgressions of the parents on the heads of the children : we have at , 
length, every other refuge proving insufficient, taken courage to examine the au- ,' 
thentic records of our Revolutionary days, and, to our unspeakable surprise, have 
discovered that, so far from their exhibiting the smallest ground for the accusations 
so recklessly made on our patriotism, every thing contributes to produce the belief, 
that there was no State engaged in that great struggle, which was " more fixed or 
more forward" than that of North Carolina. It is for the vouchers of this fact, 
long suspected, and which every day's experience goes to render more undoubted, ~^ 
that the Historical Society is now engaged in making assiduous search. So far as ( 
it has yet gone, fresh light has been found to break upon the eye at every step ; 
the confirmation grows more and more irrefragable. 

In the end of its association, it must be clear that the members of the Historical 
Society cannot be more particularly interested than are any other intelligent citi- 
zens of the State. AU should unite in the production of an issue in which all are 
equally concerned. By a sort of nonuser on the part of her citizens. North Caro- 
lina had forfeited her old renown almost beyond the power of recovery : and it is 
now confidently submitted to the public, as a plain principle of common justice, 
that the labor of repairing the breach in her character should be shared in equal 
proportion among those whose delinquency has been its occasion. 



LC JL '04 



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